09x12 - Weak Moment

[bunniefuu]

We shouldn't be doing this.

You mean I shouldn't be going home to somebody else?

What are you doing?

Turning back the clock. Here, come on.

You know, I used to worry about Abby causing troubles between Gary and me,

but I underestimated you, lady.

You could give lessons in manipulating people to Abby Ewing.

Jill, this is ridiculous. You get out of here.

Feel sorry for me, the little COED who couldn't--

Who cried herself to sleep every night

for weeks and weeks and weeks because of what you did to her.

-Alright! Shut up! -I hate you! I hate you!

I hate you! I hate you!

[theme music]

[upbeat jazz music]

♪ Maybe it was the night ♪

♪ Something about that night ♪

♪ Maybe it was the moon ♪

♪ But it just got to feeling right ♪

♪ Maybe it was the air ♪

♪ Something in the air ♪

♪ Or something in your eyes ♪

♪ What was I doing ♪

♪ When you caught me ♪

♪ In a weak moment ♪

♪ And I'm in a serious mess ♪

♪ A mother and a married woman ♪

♪ Mixed up in this kind of business ♪

♪ Call it what you want call it ♪

♪ You reach that, I gave it ♪

♪ You caught me in a weak moment ♪

♪ I could have a weak moment again ♪

♪ I should have gone right home ♪

♪ Headed straight for home ♪

♪ Why did you look so good? ♪

♪ Why was I there alone? ♪

♪ You caught me in a weak moment ♪

♪ And I'm in a serious mess ♪

♪ A mother and a married woman ♪

♪ Mixed up in this kind of business ♪

♪ Call it what you want ♪

We shouldn't be doing this.

You mean I shouldn't be going home to somebody else?

♪ I gave in ♪

♪ I could have a weak moment ♪

♪ I could have a weak moment again ♪

♪ I could have a weak moment again ♪

♪ Ooh, I could have a weak moment again ♪

[somber music]

I want you to tell Mr. Howard that the landscaping at the pool area

is totally unacceptable,

and if he expects to get paid, he's gonna have to come back out here

-and replant all that nandina. -[Marsha] Sure.

[Abby] Now, were there any other calls?

Charles Scott called again.

-[Abby] Will you tell him-- -[Charles] Tell him?

Tell him what?

-I'll return the other calls later. -Thank you.

Oh, so you'll return other calls but not mine?

Well, I don't have to return your call to know what you have to say.

I've misjudged you.

You have a perfectly good reason for missing dinner

and you want to apologize.

You misjudged me, I do have a perfectly good reason for missing dinner

and yes, I do want to apologize.

You didn't have to come all the way out here to tell me that.

You could have had your secretary call.

Yes, but I wanted to do it in person.

It is true, I was tied up with business

and, uh, I missed the last flight out.

And then I, uh, well, I couldn't call

because of the-- the time zone difference.

Time zone?

Yeah. I mean, I-I swear I never could work it out.

I also can't read road maps, and my checkbook isn't balanced.

And I bet your dog ate your homework.

Mr. Sumner.

[Greg] Hi.

I was sorry to hear about your wife.

Oh, thank you.

She was so generous.

With the money she paid for the Fuentes painting,

the artist was able to quit work and keep painting full time.

Oh, that's great.

I hope I get first crack at what he produces.

I'll arrange a meeting at a studio when he's ready to show.

Please, make yourself at home.

I have to dash off to a luncheon,

but my assistant will help you with anything you need.

Thank you.

-Forget your bifocals, pops? -What?

You look like a guy in need of your bifocals.

Actually, uh, you the assistant?

I studied art in Paris.

What are you doing here?

Uh, actually, I was thinking of cornering the market on Fuentes.

He's got a lot of potential.

[Greg] Artistic potential or investment potential?

Oh, which interests you?

Well, I have to look to the future for Meg, investment art would be nice.

What do you recommend?

I've got a lot of investment art that I--

I wouldn't hang on my own walls.

And I got iffy stuff that I love.

Iffy stuff, huh?

-What's this? -That's iffy stuff.

Iffy stuff. I like it.

Well, how would you like to see it in your own home on approval?

-Should I? -You bet.

-You work on commission? -[laughs]

-[knocking on door] -[door clicking open]

I see I'm going to have to embarrass myself even further to get through to you.

Well, I think I'm up to that.

The truth is, I didn't think I could deal with seeing you again.

-Then why come here now? -What do you want me to say?

I'm 42, and around you I feel like a teenager.

Thank you for the compliment, Charles,

But spare me the midlife crisis.

Uh, teenagers don't have midlife crises.

Look, Charles, I am very busy. I've got a meeting.

Yes, at 12:00 with Bill Masek.

I'm Bill Masek.

Then at 2:00 with, uh--

Ah, it's George Chin, at 3:00, Bruce Ko,

-and at 4:30 with-- -Helen Weatherwax.

Yeah, well, I was getting rather jealous of all those other men

on your appointment calendar.

Listen, I came to Lotus Point to do business.

I think you should take a look.

If you're not interested, I can take a plane out of here at 5:00.

[Abby thinking] He can't really believe that I'd do business with him.

[Charles thinking] How does anyone do business with her?

I'd just sit and stare at her all day.

[Abby thinking] God, his eyes are blue.

[exhales sharply]

I should at least look as though I'm reading.

[Charles thinking] I wonder if she's noticed I'm taking all the risk.

I could lose 200 grand on it.

[Abby thinking] Who cares what's in here?

I'd be crazy to agree to work with a man

who can't even make a simple phone call.

[sighs ]I'll give this proposal to Marsha to read.

Look, I'm gonna need some time

-to go over the details, um... -Of course.

So why don't you give your phone number to my secretary,

and, uh, I'll get back to you.

I'll give my room number to your secretary.

I'm taking a suite here at Lotus Point.

Well, then.

I'll just go and cancel all your other appointments for the rest of the day.

[♪]

[Gary] What's the matter?

I don't know.

The ocean.

The ocean? [laughs]

You love the ocean.

You've always said it was, uh, what?

Timeless? Reassuring?

Today it's different, it's...

I don't know, everybody's gone.

Laura's gone,

Ben.

Doesn't make any difference out there.

The waves just keep on coming in.

Jill was very sweet to me at the funeral.

Jill was very drunk at the funeral.

Well, she was nice to me, Gary.

She even said that she wants you to see Bobby and Betsy.

That makes me a little bit uncomfortable.

-I'm gonna have to tell her. -Tell her what?

-What? -About us.

[emotional music]

[calm music]

I'm awake,

-But we can pretend I'm asleep if that's easier for you. -Nope.

Well...

then let's start with how late it is.

How you went to visit Bobby and Betsy,

whose bedtime was four hours ago.

Or you also saw their mother, whose bedtime was not four hours ago.

Or was it?

No doubt you and Val are having another one of your meaningful discussions,

as you do with everyone, about how you want to make a difference.

Your sarcasm is not going to make this any easier.

Unfortunately, making a difference,

achieving something, no matter what it is, requires commitment.

And I've just realized that you can't make one.

Not to a cause, not to the people you love,

and certainly not to me.

Just tell me, Gary.

Just tell me you don't love me.

I guess I don't love you.

Well, there's backbone.

You can't even commit to non-commitment.

[emotional music]

I don't love you.

I know that I should.

I'm a fool not to love you.

You are.

If you need help with your kids, you could get a nanny.

And if you need company, you could join a bridge club.

But I think you prefer to be helpless.

Jill, what are you talking about?

You're the one who keeps this victim routine going, Valene.

Everyone thinks you're so sweet, so put-upon,

so all alone in the world, so victimized, so damn pathetic.

I think maybe you better go, Jill.

[Jill] Do you practice, Val? Do you?

Do you stand in front of the mirror and pout instead of primp?

[Valene] Get out of here, Jill.

You know, I used to worry about Abby causing troubles between Gary and me,

but I underestimated you, lady.

You could give lessons in manipulation to Abby Ewing.

You know, I really thought you wanted Gary around for the sake of the children,

but they were just bait.

I don't think that I should even dignify that with a response.

I would never use my children that way.

-I didn't even want Gary to know that they were his. -Like hell.

You put them on a hook and you dangled them in front of him.

This is ridiculous. You get out of here, Jill.

That's ridiculous. But you know what, Val? It worked.

So poor little Valene gonna have Gary back

because mean old Jill is leaving him.

[emotional music]

I said this would never happen again.

[doorbell rings]

-Hiya! -Hi!

All vegetarian.

Just zucchini, broccoli, green peppers,

so exactly what you ordered.

-I think it still qualifies as a pizza. -It does.

-And it smells great. -Uh-huh.

-Where are the kids? -At the table.

They've been waiting, says Bobby, "forever!"

You're kidding. I thought I was early.

Oh, you know kids when they're hungry.

Were you going? Did you need me to get something else?

No, no, the table's all set, and the babysitter should be here any minute.

-Babysitter? -Yeah.

I'm not gonna be back for a few hours,

and I want to make sure someone is here to watch the kids

-after you leave. -Whe-where are you going?

-Out. -What about the pizza?

What about it? The kids will love it.

I meant it for all of us.

Well, I just made other plans.

I guess I just assumed.

Guess you did. Guess that's a problem.

You can't just assume. Hey! -[Gary] Oh!

-[Gary] There he is. -[kids scream]

[hushes] Hey, now, listen, I want you to mind Uncle Gary, alright?

-Give mommy kiss. -[Bobby coos]

-I'll be back later. -[Bobby] Bye-bye.

-[Betsy] Bye-bye! -[Bobby] Bye!

You guys like vegetables? Yeah?

-You're not my kids. [laughs] -[Bobby vocalises]

[crickets chirping]

[Karen] Gary, we haven't heard from you.

About what?

About what you think.

Um...

What do you think?

What do I think?

What do you think?

Well, most of it appears acceptable.

Great. Then let's accept it.

-We haven't even started to discuss it yet. -[sighs] I was afraid of that.

[sighs] Look, Charles,

we can't very well underwrite a convention here at Lotus Point,

uh, in exchange for an article in a travel magazine with a circulation of 25,000.

Abby, it's good publicity.

And all of whom have six figure incomes.

Well, it isn't exactly our ideal target audience.

-Abby. -Here we go.

Abby, most of the specifics in here were your suggestions.

Well, it was up to you to make my suggestions work.

Tell you what, when you guys reach the decision, let me know.

-Excuse me. -Gary. [sighs]

I think this will probably work out.

Excuse me.

Haven't you got one nice word to say?

I like your tie.

It's a nice color.

[sighs]

[emotional music]

I didn't get what I wanted.

Oh. Well, let me try my luck.

Hey. Wanna do it?

Ah, yes.

[boy] Trade ya for that one!

[Charles] Oh, no.

Now, you see, this ring, it's for someone very special.

[phone ringing]

[Valene] Hi! I can't come to the phone right now,

but if you'll leave your name and your number in a short message,

I'll get back to you.

-Thanks. -[voicemail beeps]

[Gary] Hi, uh, it's Gary. Of course it's Gary.

Who else sounds like me?

Um, look, uh, with the holidays and all,

I-I thought I might come over and help the kids decorate the tree.

Uh, unless, of course, you don't want me to interfere,

in which case, maybe I could come over after it's already decorated.

I want to see you. No pizza.

I don't want to, uh, presume

or assume or, uh, whatever I did

before that rhymes with zoom.

[Mack] Well...

♪ We had a lunch date and you forgot ♪

Oh, Mack, I am so sorry.

-I forgot. -It's alright.

-Oh, honey. -It's okay.

-Oh! -Bad day?

-Bad day. -Bad month, bad year.

Need a vacation.

-I would love a vacation. -Let's take one.

-Oh, it's a good idea, but-- -But why not? Huh?

-Gary and Abby can take care of Lotus Point. -That's why not.

Come on, Karen. We'll go to, uh, take you to, uh, Venice.

-Oh, oh, I'd love to go to-- -We can go to Venice. It'll be a great time.

-We'll go to St. Mack's Square. -St. Mark's Square.

Ah, when you go with me. Come on!

I'd love to go to Venice with you.

-I'd love to go anywhere with you. -[Mack laughs]

But I just-- I have too much to do.

And we have to go to the staff Christmas party.

Oh, right. The staff Christmas party. How can I forget?

[scoffs]

-Mack. -What?

-Don't start. -Don't start.

I look forward to the-- That Christmas party.

Everybody's leaving.

I guess it isn't quite what they expected.

-Well, what did they expect? -Bonuses.

-Goodnight. -Night.

Happy holidays. Can we go now?

-In a minute. -You said that an hour ago.

-I said that five minutes ago. -It feels like an hour. Who's counting?

[instrumental music]

-Hey, Gary. -[Gary] Hey, Mack.

-[sighs] -Where's Jill?

-I don't know. -Oh.

Where's Val?

She told Karen she was too busy to make this party.

She's been busy a lot lately.

She's lucky to be too busy to make this party, which is lovely.

-Hi, Gary. -Karen.

So who's this guy with Abby?

-[Gary] That's Mr. Scott. -[Karen] Charles Scott.

He wants to do business with us.

Looks like he wants to do business with Abby.

-Didn't take her long. -[chuckles] Only 20 years.

He's her first love, but he married someone else.

Wait a minute, that's the guy she's been pining after all these years?

-He's that Charles? -That Charles.

-Him? -Him.

I gotta take another look.

♪...boughs of holly ♪

Can we go now?

-In a minute. -Oh!

♪ 'Tis the season... ♪

Aren't you taking this grudge here a little too far?

It's been 20 years.

In 20 years, I've learned enough to know that, uh,

you should sweeten your offer.

'Cause you want this deal more than I do.

♪...Yuletide carol ♪

♪ Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la ♪

♪ See the blazing... ♪

I hear you and Abby are old friends.

[scoffs] You'd never know it.

Well, she drives a hard bargain.

She used to be so sweet and so understanding.

Abby?

And sympathetic. You know that?

-I guess that's what I like most about her. -Abby?

But of course, I don't have to tell you that.

-You were married to her. -Yeah, I was.

So you know.

Listen, you go home with me right now,

I'll give you all my worldly possessions.

And what if I say no?

I'll take back all my worldly possessions and go home by myself.

I'll get my coat.

This is the best Christmas party I've ever been to.

-It is? -Yes, 'cause you and I are together.

[emotional music]

[music continues]

[sighs]

[emotional music]

[soft murmuring]

-[baby coos] -Yeah.

[toy dings]

-[Olivia] Hi, Mr. Scott! -Hi!

Hey, Great car.

Thanks. Mom and Gary gave it to me.

Just came by to drop this off for your mother.

-Is she home? -No, not yet.

-Sorry. -That's alright.

I just thought she might be home as it's close to dinner.

Should be home soon. We usually eat dinner about 6:30.

Well, why don't you stay for dinner?

Oh, oh, that's very sweet of you, but, uh,

I'll pick something up on the way back.

-You invited him to what? -To dinner.

How could you do that?

But, Mom, I thought you and he were--

Ah, whatever you thought, you were wrong.

Olivia, I can't believe I have to sit around all night and make small talk with him.

What in heaven's name am I going to say?

More carrots?

Thank you.

[light music plays on radio]

-[Michael] After you, dear. -[Mack] Hey, how you doing?

Hey. [muffled conversation]

-[Michael laughs] -[Mack laughs]

-Great invention, mistletoe. -Yes.

-Hi, honey. -Hi--

-Give that to Bobby. -[trumpet music playing]

Yeah, you take the rocking horse. Come on.

Okay, what else do we have here? Can I have the present?

That's perfect. No, it's a lock, is it?

[light music]

Mm. Baloney.

-[laughs] Baloney. -[Karen laughs]

Ah, I thought we might put up some things for the baby.

Not this year, Carlos.

Well, golly, you're certainly full of the holiday spirit.

What did you expect?

Expect to come over here and jump into bed

with your ex wife again for old times sake?

A little of the true spirit of Christmas?

h* h* h*.

What are you hanging around for, Gary?

Trees all decorated and the kids are asleep.

-I thought-- -You thought what?

I thought we could spend some time together.

Right, and then jump into bed for old times sake.

I don't remember forcing you into anything.

And I don't remember blaming you for what happened,

-now did I? -Well, you could have fooled me.

Everything you've been saying sounds like an accusation.

Look, what the hell's going on here, anyway?

One minute we're in bed together,

the next minute you won't even talk to me.

Val, I'm not embarrassed or ashamed

or sorry for anything that's happened.

Well, maybe I am. I made a mistake, alright?

And I don't want to repeat it.

I don't want you coming over here anymore.

Okay, fine.

But I want to be able to see those kids.

Fine. But not here. Not at this house.

-[door slams shut] -Oh, God.

Good dinner, mom.

-[Abby] Thanks. -[Charles] That was delicious.

You gonna check my homework, Mom?

-[Olivia] I'll do it for you. -Come on.

Hey, hey.

Oh, yeah.

-Goodnight. -[Abby] Goodnight.

-Goodnight. -[Charles] Goodnight.

-What's that? -A mistletoe.

-Olivia. -Goodnight.

-Goodnight. -[Abby sighs]

-Great kids. -[Abby sighs]

[emotional music]

Don't worry I-- I won't stay.

I'm sure Olivia's in enough trouble with you as it is.

You're right.

I really came by to give you this.

I can't accept that.

Now, it wasn't easy to find a ring the color of my tie.

I don't want a gift from you, Charles.

Oh, come on. Take it.

Charles, I don't want a gift.

I don't want apologies. I don't want anything from you.

We can't turn back the clock.

Oh, you're really enjoying this, aren't you, Abby?

Well, it's like a daydream come true.

Yeah, I bet people stuck in rush hour traffic

have daydreams about this.

An ex-lover comes back to apologize,

and you-- you get to make him grovel.

Yeah. Yeah, you even get to laugh at him.

I don't want to hurt your feelings, but, uh,

you haven't occupied my every waking thought for the last 20 years,

in or out of rush traffic.

Oh, you can be as cavalier as you like with me, Abby, but don't...

don't play out that fantasy of getting even.



I admit it, I made a mistake.

But don't you make an even bigger mistake now

of not giving us a second chance.

[instrumental music]

[birds chirping]

[imitates beeping]

[imitates beeping]

[imitates beeping]

I know we agreed not to exchange gifts this year, but, you know,

with everything that's happened, Laura, and... But here.

Oh! Mm!

-Oh, no! Oh, come on! No! We agreed! -Open yours first.

-Open it. Open it. -No, sir, you open yours.

Open yours first.

"Dear Karen, with love and appreciation

"for all that you have been to me this past year,

"I, your husband, Mack MacKenzie...

...bestow on you, my wife, the following gifts on demand."

-On demand. On demand. -On demand. I like that.

"Dinner for two at a restaurant of your choice."

-That includes me. -Oh.

I go with you.

-"One week of breakfasts in bed..." - Oui.

"Seven full body massages given by magic fingers."

Take them all in one day if you want.

Oh, oh, honey, I just, I really love this.

But I'm not gonna be able to do this right now.

-What? Come on, what do you have to do? -Open yours.

-Airline tickets? -Uh-huh.

You did. You did?

Airline tickets to...

[laughing]

Tahiti?

-You said you wanted a vacation. -Yeah, but Tahiti?

Warm breezes, warm sun,

private beaches, warm bodies.

Ooh, Tahiti.

-Mm, Tahiti. -Great idea.

[emotional music]

Okay, now what?

Uh, oh, yeah, I gotta snap these little puppies on.

Ah, "place pins K and L

"in holes opposite of slot R.

"[mutters] safety wire--" A safety wire?

"V passing through eyelet K1 and L..."

I don't want to beg, Gary.

[horn honking]

[horn honking]

[Charles] Abby!

[horn honking]

Abby!

[sighs] What are you doing?

Turning back the clock.

Here. Come on.

Turning back the clock is a very expensive business.

I'm paying something like $20 a mile to rent this relic,

so get in.

[upbeat music]

[Karen] Okay.

Now, I wrote out checks for the mortgage

and water and power and post dated them.

So if you just mailed them a couple of days before time, you should be alright.

-Okay, fine. -Okay, that's it. That's everything.

-Ah! -Let's go.

-Karen, what's in the bag? -Books.

-Books? -Yeah, I want to catch up on my reading.

-I thought we were gonna lie on the beach naked. -Oh!

Well, we can still lie on the beach like that and read.

Hey, that's the ticket. That's exactly what I was thinking about.

Hey, greetings!

-[Karen] Oh, hello! -Karen, look who's here.

-It's Meg! -Well, it's nice seeing you too, Mack.

Hello, what's his name, and how's my little angel?

Aw, she's so sweet.

I was gonna ask you guys a favor.

And you brought Meg here to butter us up, right?

-Exactly. -What's the favor?

You guys going away?

-Tahiti. -Tahiti.

Oh, in that case, forget it.

Oh! Well, what do you mean, forget it?

She'll be fine. Meg will be fine.

What does that mean, she'll be fine?

That means with a babysitter, she'll be fine.

Where are you going?

Actually, I have some pressing business in New York,

and I thought that you guys might, uh--

Take care of Meg while you're gone. Oh!

But I got Barbara and the rest of the staff,

-she'll be fine. -Are you kidding?

We'll keep her right here with us while you're gone, huh?

-What about Tahiti? -[Greg] What about Tahiti?

Tahiti? What about Tahiti?

Oh, the bag. Oh, that's just full of books.

Who'd bring books to Tahiti?

Well, Barbara could come during the day and-and help you out.

Alright. Okay. If there's a problem, we'll call Barbara.

But we're not gonna have any problems, huh?

So you go on your trip. We're gonna have a ball.

Wave bye-bye.

How long are you gonna be gone?

-I'll be back Friday. -Oh, he'll be back Friday.

Just Friday?

Uncle Mack only has until Friday

to pinch these little cheeks, huh?

Bye.

Do you know how hard it was to find a '68 Jaguar?

And in the right color.

And one I could rent.

Of course, they forgot to tell me

this thing hasn't had a tune up since 1968.

Oh.

Here. Let me take a look.

I don't need that.

Maybe it'll start now.

[engine revving]

-How'd you do that? -I practically grew up in a garage.

Remember?

I remember my car wouldn't work,

even after your brother fixed it.

Sid fixed it fine. I unfixed it.

You what?

I disconnected a wire so you'd have to stay around and talk to me.

You were fooling around with my car?

You were such a big man on campus,

you didn't have time to talk to the mechanic's little sister.

I don't believe this. I don't believe this.

I've been-I've been miserable for all these years

just because some punk kid pulled a stinking wire from my car.

[Abby] Poor Charles.

You did exactly what your family wanted you to do.

Don't try and blame it on me.

My family couldn't care who I married.

Listen, I'm the one that screwed up everything.

I'm the one that wanted to marry Judith.

-You? -Yeah.

And I made a mistake.

Now, how many times do you want me to say this?

I made a mistake.

But you-you got over it. You went on with your life.

But I've had to live with my decision.

I suppose when you kick your dog, you say,

"This hurts me more than it hurts you."

Well-well thanks for the overwhelming sympathy.

Well, what the hell is going on anyway?

Do you expect me to feel sorry for you because you broke my heart?

Oh. Oh, I see. I see. You're the only one who suffered.

Do you expect me to view you as the victim in this?

Well, yes.

-Yes, I do. Yes. Yes! -Oh, give me a break.

I've had to live every day with this decision.

I made a mistake and I've had to-- I've had to think about it.

I've had to, I've had to regret it.

I've had to hate myself for it every day now for 20 years.

Alright, forget it. I'm going back to New York.

I thought I could handle this, but I was wrong.

So, if there's any problem about the--

about the fine print of our contract,

your lawyers can talk to my lawyers.

You're so full of crap, you know that?

You are just full of it.

You playing the victim, asking for sympathy

as though you really deserved sympathy.

It's the biggest piece of self-serving logic I've ever heard.

"I made a mistake. Feel sorry for me because I made a mistake."

-Well, I was the real victim of your lousy decision... -Yes.

-...you know that? -Oh, yes?

-I'm leaving, okay? -You feel sorry for me?

Why don't you feel sorry for me?

The woman who loved you, who trusted you,

who would have done anything for you.

Listen, I am going home, dammit!

Feel sorry for me, the little COED

who couldn't-- who cried herself to sleep every night

for weeks and weeks and weeks because of what you did to her.

-Alright! Just shut up! -I hate you! I hate you!

I hate you! I hate you! No!

No! [whimpering]

[smooth jazz music]

[narrator] Next on Knots Landing.

That was Judith.

How is your wife?

This isn't about Val. It's about the kids.

It's all about Val.

You're in for a big surprise because Valene doesn't want Gary anymore.

It's better this way.

For the first time in our lives, let's just be to each other what we really are:

Ex-husband and wife.

I'm very, very happy you came to visit.

Now it's time to go home.

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